A 48-year-old lady had laser ablation of benign and non-cancerous thyroid nodules at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC). Rula Shukair was able to skip surgery to remove her thyroid gland and prevent a lifelong reliance on medicine to maintain normal metabolism thanks to the less invasive treatment.
Symptoms of benign nodules include difficulty swallowing, breathing, neck pain, and choking. During her most recent check-up, physicians noted a growth of one of the nodules, and the ENT surgeon recommended laser ablation, a procedure used to minimise the size of bothersome benign thyroid nodules. Non-cancerous nodules that expand must be removed since they can impair eating and breathing.
“Laser treatments are administered through a needle, and the amount of energy delivered is planned and pre-calculated based on the size of the nodule,” said Dr Shaik Irfan Basha, consultant otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery and Chair of the Department of Surgery at SKMC, which is part of the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha). According to Dr. Basha, laser ablation therapy for benign thyroid nodules is a novel, non-surgical method that is successful and has a very low risk of significant consequences.
Thyroid patients with benign thyroid nodules, multinodular compressive goitre (enlarged thyroid) causing a bulge in the neck and cosmetic discomfort, compressive symptoms such as difficulties swallowing and breathing, or a large mass that displaces the trachea are suitable candidates for this treatment.
“I was overjoyed when Dr Basha informed me that I would be the first candidate at SKMC to have the nodules laser abated,” Rula remarked. “I was glad not to have to have surgery or have my thyroid gland removed.”
